In Chinese, 红颜知己 hóngyánzhījǐ (red soulmate) and 蓝颜知己 lányánzhījǐ (blue soulmate) are defined as the “fourth emotion” of human being. 红颜知己 hóngyánzhījǐ refers to the female friend of a man that is also a soulmate of the man, but is not his lover. 蓝颜知己 lányánzhījǐ is a male friend of a woman instead. The other three emotions are 亲情 qīnqíng (blood), 友情 yǒuqíng (friendship) and 爱情 àiqíng (romantic love). People have different opinions towards the “fourth emotion” since it is easily to go beyond the border and become romantic love in an affair.
Here is a reader’s translation of 蓝颜知己 that I think is very helpful: “Confidential Close Male Friend – This is the type of male friend that you may have that you could tell anything to, and if he started to fall in love with you, you could say ” Why do you want to wreck our perfect friendship ” and he would understand. ”
Strictly speaking, 红(蓝)颜知己 hóng(lán)yánzhījǐ is a relationship that is 比朋友多一点,比情人少一点 bǐ péngyou duō yīdiǎn, bǐ qíngrén shǎo yīdiǎn (more than friend, less than lover). In Chinese history, the word of 红颜知己 hóngyánzhījǐ has been around for centuries. However, 蓝颜知己 lányánzhījǐ only came around a couple of years ago.
No matter when they appeared, both words are frequently used in today’s China. You might have read about them, or you’ll meet them later. I hope this beautiful song could explain the subtle feelings of 蓝颜知己 lányánzhījǐ to you in a walk of music.
The first video is the version with both male and female voice, my favorite too. The second video is a movie cut from <<新上海滩 xīn shàng hǎitān (Shanghai Grand)>> that explains the song in a story. Hope you love it…
蓝颜知己
Blue Soulmate
词:陈倩倩 曲:郭亮
lyrics: Chen Qianqian Music: Guo Liang
时间让情感 一点点沉淀
Time lets emotions to accumulate, bit by bit,
那些未曾留意的改变
those unnoticed changes
情人知己 这条界限
lover, or soulmate
到底应该划在哪里
wher should we draw the line?
如果这世间 真的还有
Whether in this world
这样的第四种情感
the fourth emotion like this exists?
一封未开启的信
A letter that has not been opened
留下多少悬念
leaves so much unknown
蓝颜知己 心有灵犀
Blue soulmate, the spirit in mind
你解我的心事我懂你的暗语
you understand my thoughts, I understand your hints
蓝颜知己 我们的秘密
Blue soulmate, our secret
特别的你 总在心里
The special you, are always in my mind
(就算是没有明天 没有结果)不会忘记
(Even if there’s no tomorrow, no result) won’t forget
(都无法放弃)谁也无法代替
(can’t give up) can’t be replaced
相见不相见 已慢慢习惯
See you or not, slowly getting used to .
那些未曾说出的想念
Those missing feelings that had never been told
多么希望 这种感觉
How much I wish, those feelings
闭上双眼 瞬间凝结
could be frozen the instant I closed my eyes
冷藏保鲜 没有期限
Have them freshly frozen, never expire
只愿到下一个世纪
Wish only when the next century comes
再溶解
let them thaw
要怎么面对这一天
How can we face that day
你问的直接
you ask straight
蓝颜知己 命中注定
Blue soulmate, it’s destiny
暧昧还是清晰 难解它的玄机
Vague or clear, can’t tell
蓝颜知己 我们的秘密
Blue soulmate, our secret
有种感动记忆 都是关于你
Those sentimental memories, are all about you
这种爱不可代替
The love that can not be replaced
[pinyin]
lányánzhījǐ
cí: chén qiàn qiàn qū: guō liàng
shíjiān ràng qínggǎn yīdiǎndiǎn chéndiàn
nàxiē wèicéng liúyì de gǎibiàn
qíngrén zhījǐ zhè tiáo jièxiàn
dàodǐ yīnggāi huà zài nǎlǐ
rúguǒ zhè shìjiān zhēn de háiyǒu
zhèyàng de dì sì zhǒng qínggǎn
yī fēng wèi kāiqǐ de xìn
liúxià duōshao xuánniàn
lányánzhījǐ xīn yǒu língxī
nǐ jiě wǒ de xīnshì
wǒ dǒng nǐ de ànyǔ
lányánzhījǐ wǒmen de mìmì
tèbié de nǐ zǒng zài xīnli( jiùsuàn shì méiyǒu míngtiān méiyǒu jiéguǒ)
bùhuì wàngjì( dōu wúfǎ fàngqì)
shéi yě wúfǎ dàitì
xiāngjiàn bù xiāngjiàn yǐ mànmàn xíguàn
nàxiē wèicéng shuōchū de xiǎngniàn
duōme xīwàng zhèzhǒng gǎnjué
bìshang shuāngyǎn shùnjiān níngjié
lěngcáng bǎo xiān méiyǒu qīxiàn
zhǐ yuàn dào xiàyīge shìjì zài róngjiě
yào zěnme miànduì zhè yī tiān
nǐ wèn de zhíjiē
lányánzhījǐ mìngzhōngzhùdìng
àimèi háishi qīngxī nánjiě tā de xuánjī
lányánzhījǐ wǒmen de mìmì
yǒuzhǒng gǎndòng jìyì dōu shì guānyú nǐ
zhèzhǒng ài bùkě dàitì